Budgam, Jammu and Kashmir: After nearly ten months without work, ponywallah Reyaz Ahmad finally welcomed his first group of tourists for a horse ride at Doodhpathri in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district. The reopening of the scenic tourist destination has brought renewed hope to locals who struggled to survive during the prolonged shutdown.
Doodhpathri, often referred to as a “winter wonderland,” reopened after the government eased security restrictions on 14 tourist destinations across Kashmir. Reyaz, who had borrowed money to support his family during the shutdown, said the return of tourists marks the restoration of his livelihood.
“I just can’t tell you how happy I am today. This is the first group of tourists we have received at Doodhpathri. It’s our livelihood that was taken away all these months. Thank God our livelihood is restored today,” he said.
Tourism Shutdown Hit Locals Hard
Following a terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam in April last year, the government shut down 48 tourist destinations in Jammu and Kashmir. The move triggered a mass exodus of visitors from the Valley, leading to widespread economic disruption and job losses for thousands of families dependent on tourism.
Despite phased reopening attempts—16 sites in June and 12 in September—tourists were slow to return. However, heavy snowfall in December revived interest in Kashmir, and officials reported that over one lakh tourists visited the region in January, signalling a turnaround for the sector.
On Monday, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced the reopening of 14 more destinations, including Doodhpathri.
Hope Returns for Workers and Visitors
Reyaz described the waiting period as traumatising, saying he had to borrow money to meet basic expenses. “Now, I hope to earn a decent living and repay debts,” he said.
Tourists also expressed joy at being among the first visitors after the reopening. A tourist from Udaipur said she was happy to witness the locals’ happiness after such a difficult period. Visitors from Mumbai praised the snow-covered meadows and hospitality, calling the destination even better than Switzerland.
Political Reactions
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah for reopening the tourist sites but questioned the rationale behind the prolonged closure. He said shutting down tourism for ten months served no purpose and that locals bore the brunt of the economic fallout. Abdullah noted that even during peak militancy, previous governments had not closed tourism entirely.